The cloud computing service managed by Apple has recently offered an application allowing easier access to files stored online on iCloud. Problem, this file explorer is hidden by default. In this tutorial, we explain how to activate iCloud Drive to view all your documents directly from the home screen of your iPhone..
Manage documents stored in the Apple cloud
If you are a regular user of iCloud, you have probably already wondered why it was impossible to view in a single interface all your documents stored online. For some inexplicable reason, Apple does not offer a file explorer for browsing its online storage space .
So it's impossible to know exactly what you keep on iCloud. This is all the more surprising since most of the competing services like Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive have long offered this functionality..
File Explorer for iCloud
Fortunately Apple has decided to change the game. Since the arrival of iOS 9, the Apple firm has just set up a file explorer dedicated to its online storage service. ICloud users will now be able to access all their documents directly from the SpringBoard. The only problem is that the iCloud Drive application managing this function is hidden by default on all iPhone and iPad equipped with iOS 9.
How to activate iCloud Drive
Want to access your files directly from the iCloud Drive app? We explain how to do it..
- Open your mobile device settings
- Click on iCloud then on iCloud Drive
- Toggle the switch next to the Show on Home screen
- Click the Home button to exit the settings
- The iCloud Drive icon will automatically appear on the SpringBoard of your iPhone or iPad
By clicking on it, you will be able to navigate in your online storage space and very easily access all your saved documents. Note that iDrive compatible applications such as Pages, Keynote, TextEdit, or Numbers have their own folder. All documents created from these applications are directly stored in these directories.
To modify or open a file from iCloud Drive, simply select it then click on the Share icon and choose from the " Open with " menu the desired application. You are therefore no longer obliged, as was the case previously, to use the application with which you created your file. iCloud Drive offers great flexibility of use.
Second and not least, you can also use the iCloud Drive app to save all your documents in the cloud with a simple drag and drop. A very interesting feature to make files accessible from another terminal (Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone) in just a few clicks.
As a reminder, Apple's online storage service offers 5 GB of free space to store all its documents (photos, videos, pdf, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.).